Bore hole sampler



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 7 mm 7 m0 0 7 W a Egg I a March 4, 1958 LE ROY E. cox

BORE HOLE SAMPLER Filed Aug. 30, 1955 f?! 13 1 I I I I I I i 0 0 V1 5 n.kl! Z 1 z u I II llll f g a 3 fififlflfl H Z8 6 7 9 5 5 5 12 w. a. 1M1255 mw a United {States Patent BORE HOLE SAMPLER Le Roy E. Cox, GrandJunction, Coin.

Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,458

Claims. (Cl. 255 -1.4)

This invention relates to geological and mining exploratory and testequipment, and more particularly to a device for taking an earth samplefrom a hole of minimal bore made by a plug bit or a bore of any largerdiameter at any time during .or subsequent to the sinking of the bore inthe ground. By Way of example, but not by way of limitation, theinvention is'useful in prospecting for uranium.

As is generally known to those familiar with the art, most test drillingfor uranium is done by the plug bit method which provides a hole largeenough for the insertion of a radiation-sensitive probe but too small topermit the practical taking of an actual core sample. The holes aredrilled, then probed and radiometric readings taken to reveal thepossible presence of uranium. When a reading of sufficient value isobtained, it is then necessary either to enlarge the bore with acoredrill and take an actual sample at the proper level for chemical assayor to'core-drill a new hole. Obviously, this second drill ing operationincreases the prospecting cost considerably.

A somewhat similar problem exists in connection with bores drilledduring thev past by engineers in search of some other mineral. Here too,the bore must be probed and core drills of proper size used to obtainsamples when promising readings are obtained. This involves the use ofcore drills of various sizes and a rather considerable amount of riggingand equipment in the case of larger bores and small shafts.

As a result, there are thousands of test bores, so-called dry. holes andopen shafts on which no. geophysical or geochemical stratigraphic dataare available 'and which are too small for obtaining samples byconventional methads but which appear deserving of further investigationin view of the radiometric readings obtained by probing.

The present invention has been made with the foregoing in mind, and hasa plurality of separate and important objects.

One main object of this invention is the provision of' a device. forobtaining. samples from a plug bit hole without the necessity ofenlarging the hole with a core drill.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a deviceadapted to take a sample from a bore from within a limited verticalrange so that the sample will be. representative of the deposits at acertain definite level and will not be diluted by non-typical materialfrom above or below.

Yet another object isthe provision of a sampler adapted for forming acavity from which the sample is dislodged that is long enough and ofsuitable conformation to keep theside. wall of the bore from caving intothe bore when the sampler is removed.

Another equally important object of this invention is the provision of aborehole sampling device as previously described adapted; to carryadequate integrated pressure generating means not requiring the use ofelec- Patented Mar. 4, 1958 tricity, compressed air or other externalpower source for forcibly removing the sample from the bore wall at anydesired depth.

In brief, the bore hole sampling device of my invention includes anelongate assembly which can be lowered into a plug bit hole. The upperportion of the device consists of a plurality of interfittinglongitudinal segments in which is disposed at triggering means, operablefrom the surface of the ground by a trigger line, to fire a cartridgeand drive a chisel-edged projectile into the wall of the bore holebreaking fragments therefrom which fall through an opening in the sidewall into a hollow section at the bottom of the device.

Other important objects and distinguishing features of this inventionwill be apparent upon reading the following description of one preferredembodiment and modifications thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the sampling deviceaccording to my invention, with a portion of the outer wall cut away toshow the hollow sample chamber in the bottom thereof.

Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale than Figure 1, showing an axialsection of the device taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 2a is an enlarged schematic view of the trigger member andplunger after release thereof by pulling the trigger line from above;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternateembodiment in which an electrically fired cartridge is used to expel aseparate and spaced projectile from the muzzle of the firing chamber;

Figure 4 is alsoa'schematic sectional View showing the firing chambercomponents provided with a solenoid for imparting force to the firingpin; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing a furthervariation of my invention in which a blasting cap is used to move thefiring pin into contact with the detonator of the cartridge.

Reference is again made to Figure 1 in. which the numeral 1t) designatesthe complete bore sampler assembly which is seen to be longitudinallyextended normally vertically in space and of rod-like conformation,rounded at both ends 11 and 12, and having an eye member 13 disposedaxially from its upper end 11- to which a line is attached for loweringand raising; the device in a bore hole. Intermediate of the ends 11 and.22 are two apertures in the side wall, the smaller being the opening ofa firing muzzle 14; and the larger, lower opening 15 providing ingressto a generally tubular sample receiving chamber or pocket 16' in thelower half'of the assembly. More specifically, the rod-like body portion10 is neither a solid rod nor a hollow tube, but is actually a pluralityof longitudinal isegments'assembled by means of threaded joints at thepoints indicated in Figures 1 and 2 by the numerals'17, 18', 1:9 and 29.

The operating principle of the device may be seen in Figure 2 in whichthe sampler'lll is shown entered in a bore in the surrounding formation21'. In the central portion of the sampler adjacent the joint 1 9 is arelatively solid longitudinal section 22' having a diagonal breech plate22a pivotally mounted'at 225 to permit the loading of a cartridge into,and removal of a shell from a diag onally disposed gun bore 23 in thesolid section 22. The cartridge 24' is fitted with a generallycylindrical pro jectile 25 which is truncated at its end spaced from thecartridge toprovide a chisel-like leading edge 26, the point 27 of whichis positioned adjacent the muzzle opening 14 which, inturn, is in closejuxtaposition with the side of thebore hole-28.

Firing the cartridge 24 forces the projectile 25' out wardly of thechamber 23 causing the point 27 to perm A name formation atXdislodgingthe material bounded: by thedotted line XYZ from theborewall 28. This.

dislodged material falls in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2through the opening 15 into, thesarnple receiy l zchamrber, bestseenlatIGin Figure 1;-

Afterbeing liftedto the surface of the g'rolund; body to a conventionalelectric fuse in the cap 68 f the car tridge;69. A small, generally;cylindrical space '70 is' 7 provided in the lower'face 71 of the segment67 'to' facilitate connecting the wire 65 to the cap '68 and to pro'-.

.Cit

- assembly is separated at'the screw joint 20,1and the sample .materialremovedforinspection andas'sayl V I l 'Vanous embodiments of myinvention are shown in other figures in the drawings, but all use thesame general type of pro ectile; Inthe-embodiment shown in Figure 3 'theprojectile' 29. isgprovided with a circumferential inwardly by a spring32 anchored witha set screw 33 in a'radially disposedbor{e34; v A

Theother difljerlences. in. thegvarious embodiments re- 7 side mainly inthe means employed; to fire the cartridge or;otherwise actuate'theexpulsion of. the projectile.

I L Returning again to Figure 2 the firing means employed inthisembodiment are entirely mechanical and include a ro. ;v.30, whichris lengaged by a ball detent 31 urged the same as those of the embodimentshQWninFigure Z. '1 In the'emoodiment'of Figure- 4,.however,- anelectrically V.

in? li ep n :1

massive hammer member 35 movable longitudinally ina cylinder. 36 andwith arod 37 extending upwardly and axially of the hammer .35 through abore 38. The rod is 'lterminated upwardly'in a ball knob 40disposedwithin the hollow dome-shaped cap member 11. a. a

'7 Around the rod 37 is'ra coil compression spring 41 stantly urgeddownwardly withinlth'e cylinder. 36 by the spring 41 but is restrainedfrom movement by the engage- 'ment of a sear 45, pivoted at 46 androtatable upwardly from the stop pini47 by means of a trigger. line 48which, inturmis movable through the bore 49in the body portion 39 andbore 50 in the cap portion 11. v To cock the firing'rnechanism, thedevice isheld in a vertical position with the cap member 11 removed,then the ball-knob '40 is pulled upwardly of thebodysegment 39 until thesear 45' drops by gravity-'(or conventional spring means" not shown)against the stop pin 47 and under thecollar 44. As shown in Figure 2a,pulling the v trigger'line 48 rotates the sear 45 upwardly about thepivot 46a. in the direction of the arrow d-a, out of engagement with thecollar 44, thereby permitting "the :shown in Figure 2a...

When soreleased, the hammer-'35 .is thrust downwardly i against a firingpin shank 51- which isislidably positioned in the counterbore 52disposed downwardly. from the cylinder 36. The downwardly moving shank51 compresses the coil spring 53, forcing the firing'pin 54, which isfixedly attached'to and extended downwardly from the shank 51; throughthe pin bore 55 and into contact with .the detonator 56 of the cartridge24. The cartridge v24 hammer to move downwardly to the relative positionsingle strand of wire, such as 77 in Figure 4; hasibeen .shown it is tobe understood that the diagrams were'not intended to show'anygdetails ofthe circuitry; towhich e no claims of invention are made, and theelectricalcircuit' may be completed by the use of metalshielding on the1 outside of the line 76 as the groundconnection,lor thel strand 77 may,if preferred, contain'a pair of insulated j 'fconductors; i i

.is fired; the projectile 25 is driven outwardly of the muzzle 14;fragments, from the. arcuatearea of the bore wall bounded by the lineX-'.YZ.are 'dislo dgedfand fall through the opening i15into the samplechamber 16.

which are drawn together by set screws 62 and 63'above :the load-bearingsheath of the line 57.

i the collar 64, the latter being the lower termination of Anelectrically conductive insulated wire 65 is disposed at the center ofthe line 57 and is'carried through "a bore 66 in a generally solideuppersegment 67 and; connected cap '1001of the cartridge in' assembly 80.

vide space for slack in the wire when the longitudinal segments 67andj72 are threaded together at the joint 73.

The opposite; normally-above-ground end of the wire 65 is connectedthrough a suitable firing switch to'a suitable. current supply abovetheground neither of which is shown in the drawings; r

. The embodiment of my device' shown iq Figure 4 in- F I eludes anelongated upper cap; segment 74 iniwhich is' disposed an assembly'75,for attachingthe surface line 5 76, substantially the same; asvthatpreviously:described with reference to Figure}. Thearrahgemenhoflthe 5' central-segment 79-rand the details 'ofthecartridge cham i her and breech cap assembly 80in Figure 3"a'rcgenerally operated solenoid is employed to depress instead of the hammershown in Figure 2.

To the the device showningFigure l,electric current;

is supplied, throughralwire 77 extending-trom-the' line '76, to amagnetic coil 81 enclosedjwithin "a vcylindrical casing 82 having anaxial bore 83 in the topfthereofi and a smaller bore 84 in the bottom.The casing 82 is5fixcdly 7 attached to the rigid str'uetureo f 'theentire assembly and the bores'83 and 84 therein are centerbore 850i thecoil 81..

Slidably disposed within the cylindrical wall fof the device above thecasing'82 is a'hammerl86 havingfa circular groove 87 in the 'underface88 thereofllan'd -a core 89 extended axiall'y downwardly therefromthrough the'bore 83 inthe casingr82 and into themagnetic'coil showninFigure 4.

Directly belowthe adjacent the bore 84 therein to hold the .samejretracted Althoughin Figuref4, and in other figures 'only a 7 In either case,whenythe electrical circuit iscompleted V 7 by the operation ofswitching means abovethe surfaceof the ground, the magnetic coil 81is'energized, drawing the rod'89 downwardlythrough the'bore 'of'thejcoil c 81, and bringing the. circular end face 92 off the rod 189 intosharp impact against theopposed face .of the-shank the detonator- '93,thereby driving the firing pin 94 against Another variation of myinvention isset forth in the, jembodimentshown inFigure 5 in whichja-rblasting' cap'f Q 101 is disposed in a hollowachambe'r 102 in-theupper portion 104 ct thesampler. assembly being'connected and. Suspendedtherein by. means of 'a cable andclamp;

assembly 103 similar to that shown at 75 inFigu're' 4. jIn

the next: lower segment-105, is' an axially disposed bore 106 andzcounterbo're 107 opening into the liottomofthe chamber 102;- .Apiston'108, generally cylindricalin cona y l nec im e,

end face. 92fof the core 89 is a. generally cylindrical shank 93 havinga firingfpin 94 ex tended therefrom. The shank-93 is slidableaiiiallylwithin, e: the coil bore 85; and thefiring pin 94' is similarlys'lidable a a in the bore 84 and in;continuations' 96 and 9,8 -thereof,'

through the lower. portion'97 of the longitudinal"segment V -78','andthrough the breechca'p 99; to;the percussion gdetonator pm the 'face ofthecartridge shell. A helical f; compression spring'95 is disposed'around 'the"firingjpina 94 andl the inner face of the bottom of thecasing-'82 formation and'having a rodlike firing pin 109, extendeddownwardly therefrom, positioned 'slid'ably "the counterbore 107 withthe pin member 109 'slidal'ale'j /itliih the throughbore 106. A coilspring 11 hpttonie'd ip'the counterbore 107 serves to hold the piston 108 upwardly of the bottom of the counterbore andthe tip .111 of thefiring pin 109 out of contact with the'detpnator 112 on the upwardlydisposed end-face of the cartridge in the firing'assembly 113 which issubstantially'a counterpart of that shown at 30 in Figure "4 anddescribed in detail above in reference to Figure 2.

Electrical firing of the blasting cap 101 generates pressure in thechamber 102 sufiicient to drive the hammer member 108 downwardly in thecounterbore 107 and simultaneously drive the end 111 of the firing pin109 into the detonator end 112 .of the cartridge inthe firing assemblyat 113. Since the detonation .of a blasting cap is usually too sharp to.be employed directly to. propel the projectile, the chamber 102 isprovided .and made large enough in volume to absorb a part of thedetonating shock and prevent damage to the casing. The gas pressure inthe chamber 102 escapes relatively slowly after detonation, throughbleed holes 102a. Test experience indicates the advisability of using acartridge similar to standard small arms ammunition of suitable calibre,replacing the conventional lead or steel jacketed bullet portion withthe projectile of truncated cylindrical conformation previouslydescribed herein.

While the forms shown and described herein are fully capable ofachieving the advantages hereinbefore stated, they are capable of somemodification without departure from the spirit of the invention. Forthat reason I do not mean to be limited to the forms shown and describedabove, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a chamberformed therein with an enlarged opening to receive material dislodgedfrom the wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; gunmeansin said body having a projectile supporting bore directed obliquely fromthe axis of said body and against said wall, the muzzle of saidprojectile bore being directly above said enlarged opening when saidbody is suspended as aforesaid said enlarged opening being substantiallylarger than said projectile bore; means to suspend said body adjacentthe wall of an earth bore; and means to fire a projectile through saidgun bore against said wall, said projectile following a downward path insaid wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, to dislodgematerial from the wall into said opening.

2. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a chamberformed therein with an enlarged opening to receive material dislodgedfrom the Wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; gunmeans in said body having a projectile supporting bore directedobliquely from the axis of said body and against said wall, the muzzleof said projectile bore being directly above said enlarged opening whensaid body is suspended as aforesaid said enlarged opening beingsubstantially larger than said projectile bore, said elongate body beingseparable intermediate its ends to permit breech loading of said bore;means to suspend said body adjacent the wall of an earth bore; and meansto fire a projectile through said gun bore against said wall, saidprojectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacentsaid enlarged opening, to dislodge material from the wall into saidopening.

3. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a chamberformed therein with a lateral enlarged opening to receive materialdislodged from the Wall of an earth bore in which said body issuspended; means to suspend said body at a predetermined depth in anearth bore; means forming an oblique gun bore in said body having amuzzle above said chamber opening said opening being substantiallylarger than the muzzle of said gun bore; an

. 6 explosive charge positioned'in the breech end of said gun bore; aprojectile in said gun bore between said charge and muzzle; and meansactu'atable from the earth surface'to explode said charge and drive'saidprojectile into said wall, said projectile following a downward path insaid wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, to dislodgematerial from the wall into said opening.

4. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a samplerchamber formed therein with a lateral enlarged opening to receivematerial dislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said bodyis'suspended; means to suspend said body at apredetermined depth in anearth bore; means forming an oblique gun bore in said bodyhavingarnuzzle above said chamber opening said opening beingsubstantially larger than the muzzle of said gun bore; an explosivecharge positioned in the breech end of said gun bore; a truncatedcylindrical lprojectile positioned in said bone between said charge andmuzzle, said projectile having a chisel-shaped point disposed topenetrate said wall when said projectile is fired from said bore anddislodge material by a cutting action from said wall downwardly andinwardly through the enlarged opening into said sample chamber; andmeans actuatable from the earth surface to explode said charge and drivesaid projectile into said wall, said projectile following a downwardpath in said wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, todislodge material from the wall into said opening.

5. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a pocketformed therein with a lateral enlarged opening to receive materialdislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said body issuspended; means to suspend said body in an earth bore at apredetermined depth therein; gun means in said body including a borehaving an explosive charge-receiving chamber substantially parallel tothe axis of said body, and an oblique projectile bore communicated withsuch chamber portion and with the muzzle thereof directly above saidopening said opening being substantially larger than the muzzle of saidgun bore, said body being separable adjacent said chamber to permit theloading thereof; an explosive charge in said chamber; a separateprojectile in said bore; and means actuatable from the surface toexplode said charge and drive said projectile into said wall, saidprojectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacentsaid enlarged opening, to dislodge material from the wall into saidopening.

6. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a pocketformed therein with a lateral opening to receive material dislodged fromthe wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; means tosuspend said body in an earth bore at a predetermined depth therein; gunmeans in said body including a bore having an explosive charge-receivingchamber portion substantially parallel to the axis of said body, and adownwardly oblique projectile bore communicated with such chamberportion and having the muzzle thereof positioned directly above saidopening, said body being separable adjacent said charge-receivingportion to permit the loading thereof; detent means in said bodyadjacent said projectile bore to retain a projectile therein when loadedthrough said muzzle; an explosive charge in said gun chamber; a separateprojectile in said gun bore; and means actuatable from the surface toexplode said charge and drive said projectile into said wall, saidprojectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacentsaid enlarged opening to dislodge material from the wall into saidopening.

7. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a pocketformed therein with an enlarged lateral opening to receive materialdislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said body issuspended; means forming an oblique gun bore in said body having amuzzle above said pocket opening, said opening being substantiallylarger than said gun bore, said bore being adapted to receive apercussion-fired cartridge-'projectilmja firing pih 'rnovblysupportd'insaid bodyfto firea cartrfdgefih trs aidrblor'e; mean'sito'suspend saidbodyma predetermined @depthin a bdre hole; andpowe'r 'inczins in'fs'aidbody Vact'uatable from the ground sur facerto move said .pin and "fire?said'cartridg'c as aforesaid twherebylo drive a 'p'ro tjectile obliquelythrough sid bore against-said wal l fsaid projectile followinga'downwardpath in said 'wall in'irne- 1 'diately' adjacent said enlarged opening,to'dislodge'mate 7' 10 surfaceto pressurize said chamber and drivetsaid'firing pin against a cartridge, in said borer to fire the same''as "rial from the wall into'said opening.

7 '18. The construction of claim ,7 wherein said power 7 me'ansvincludesa solenoid insaid body, a hammer driven v by said solenoid and adaptedtofstrikeis'aid'firing pin, and 1 electricaL'conductor'm'eans extendingfrom 'saidbodyto "the ground surface. whereby to: energize saidsolenoid. 7

' 9.-The construction of claim] wherein: said power means includes amovable hammersupporte'd in said Bodyfadjacent'tsaid'firing pin,'aspring'fpositioned and eagues from saidfiring pin and, against theurgingof saidtspringg .and trigger means extending from said sear meansto the ground surfalce and adapted when'actuateld'tofreleasetsgidjhammer and permit said spring to drive saidfhammer;

vagainst said firing pin ttorfire snidtcirtridge' as aforesaid. r i

10. The construction of claim [7 wherein said power 1 means include's'an expansible fluid chamber: in said bodv' having 'a movable wallportion connected to. said firing .pin, and a fluid pressure source'actuatable' from the ground aforesaid V References Cited in the' fileof this patent;

15 Q "QTUNITED STATES PATENTS 7 it 7 1,515,497 1 [Lamnr Novl ll", 1924v- 2,020,856 V 'Schl umberge Nov; 11,1935 2,313,369 Spencer Mar.9,"l943t r 20 2 ,344,77s

Keplinger'e Mar. 2 1 1 944

